Want to know what National Wildlife Federation was up to this week? Here is a recap of the week’s NWF news:

Transportation Package Delivers Progress for Wildlife, Taxpayers

June 28 – Congressional negotiators have reached a deal on a wide-reaching transportation bill that includes the RESTORE Act, landmark legislation to direct BP fines and penalties to Gulf Coast restoration.

More than two years into the worst oil disaster in America’s history, Washington is finally delivering on its promise to make the Gulf whole again. Once BP’s fines and penalties have been established, the RESTORE Act will represent one of the most important investments in natural resources in America’s history, a critically-needed commitment to Gulf Coast ecosystems and the people who depend on them,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “All of us now have the responsibility to make sure every dollar is invested in restoring the Gulf’s impacted communities and wildlife habitat.”

Read NWF’s joint statement with our Gulf Coast restoration partners here.

House Interior Appropriations Bill Slashes Conservation Funding

June 28 – The House Appropriations Committee today voted for an Interior Appropriations bill that slashes funding for conservation and continues a month-long assault on Clean Water Act protections for healthy wetlands, clean streams, and drinking water for 117 million Americans.

The deep funding cuts approved in the bill will undermine conservation, public land management, and the outdoor recreation economy. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which conserves public land essential for fish and wildlife as well as hunting, angling, and outdoor recreation, will be cut from $345 million in the current fiscal year to approximately $66 million in FY 2013. Funding to operate and maintain National Wildlife Refuges, which not only conserve wildlife but generate $1.7 billion in economic activity and support 27,000 private sector jobs, is cut from $486 million to $437 million.

National Wildlife Federation, Earth Networks Partner on Weather and Nature Education

June 27 -The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has announced that it will incorporate weather and climate data into its Eco-Schools USA program as part of a partnership with Earth Networks, owner of the popular WeatherBug national weather monitoring programs. The WeatherBug web, mobile web and mobile applications will soon include additional content on the outdoors and wildlife.

The partnership brings together two institutions with a strong pedigree of observing and advocating for the health of the planet and its atmosphere and provides a broad network to amplify NWF’s message about conservation and the benefits of connecting more kids with nature. WeatherBug Schools Programs are already used in thousands of K-12 classrooms nationwide, and a reported 22 million online users get weather information from WeatherBug’s website and applications.

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News